the heart of the matter
14
3.9
- idiom
- Mr Tappan, I'm talking about the heart of the matter.
- get to the heart of the matter
- cut to the heart of the matter
- go to the heart of the matter
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Watch on YouTubeSo he says thinking about the issue by surveying it as an objective observer cannot touch the heart of the matter.
- So he says thinking about the issue by surveying it as an objective observer cannot touch the heart of the matter.
- And it was the question to tee things off with So simple questions that get right to the heart of the matter.
- So what is that messaging, which is what you're getting to the heart of the matter that he doesn't understand.
Examples
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The heart of the matter is that we need access to all your SOSUS data from late winter 2012.
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The document was modern in its insistence that student learning should be at the heart of the matter.
Academic text (2005) -
We're getting down to the heart of the matter.
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We have come to the heart of the matter.
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So, before we get to the heart of the matter, I have one question for you.
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And here, of course, we come to the heart of the matter.
Academic text (1992) -
Now they were getting to the heart of the matter.
Fiction book (2000) -
In my opinion, he reached the heart of the matter.
Academic text (1998) -
Throw off the superfluous detail and get to the heart of the matter.
Fiction book (1995) -
After discussing various topics, we finally reached the heart of the matter regarding our budget allocation.
Synonyms
641
3.2
The most important central part of something
510
2.7
The central part of something, for example an idea or a place
470
1.0
The most important part or person that gets most attention
393
3.7
The most important point in a situation
172
4.3
The main idea of something said or written
47
3.1
A main idea in a talk or report
47
4.5
The most important part of a plan or project
37
3.7
The main person, thing, or idea that gets most attention
34
7.5
The main point that decides what matters most in an issue
28
3.4
The most important part that holds a group or thing together
6
7.6
The main part or idea that other things depend on
6
6.7
The main point people argue about in a discussion
4
5.6
The most important part of a problem or discussion
4
2.9
The most important point someone makes in a discussion or essay
2
6.7
The main idea of a speech or piece of writing
1
3.4
The most important idea in a discussion or text
1
5.6
The main point someone makes in a discussion
1
7.0
The most important point people discuss in a disagreement
1
4.1
The main idea that connects the points someone makes
The main point of a discussion or argument
The most important part of an idea or theory that you must understand
Antonyms
How Central
Surface Forms
Morphology
the + heart + of + the + matter
The noun 'heart' (central core) combined with 'matter' (subject or issue) composes directly to mean the central or most important point; the prepositions/articles are only grammatical connectors. This is a common, cross-linguistic metaphorical pattern ('heart of X' = core of X) so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The heart of the matter creates a clear picture: the heart is the centre inside the matter, the thing being talked about. So, it means 'the most important or central point' of a problem or discussion.